Zoom Meeting
Once More for May... unless otherwise notified via email Volume 17, Number 5 • May 2021 After 45 Years, the Navy is Planning to
PRIDE RUNS DEEP ‘Recycle’ a First-of-Its-Kind Missile Sub (Reproduced from the Insider website - published February 19, 2021) by Benjamin Brimelow
“To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution.”
What’s Inside Commander’s Message 2 General Meeting Minutes 3 Tolling of the Boats 6 Connecticutt Fights Bedbugs 7 Dex Armstrong 10 U.S. Navy Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio gets into position for an exercise off Chapter News 12 the coast of Okinawa, Japan, February 2, 2021. (U.S. Navy/Sgt. Audrey M. C. Rampton.) Upcoming Events Calendar 13 E-Board Meeting Minutes 14 n December, the U.S. Navy released its 30-year ship-building plan, which called for Columbia Class Fast-Tracked 15 building 404 new vessels to reach a 541-ship fleet by 2051, with 304 current vessels USSVI Update Bulletins 16 Iretired over that period. Russia’s Monster Subs 25 Fourteen of the vessels to be retired are nuclear-powered, and thus need to be recycled as part of the Navy’s Ship-Submarine Recycling Program to ensure safe disposal of their nu- Editor’s Corner clear reactors and fuel. As I write this I’m thrilled to report I’ve received my first vac- Those ships include the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and thirteen nuclear sub- cine shot and look forward to marines: eleven Los Angeles-class attack subs and two Ohio-class cruise-missile submarines, my second this Friday. After that known as SSGNs. comes a couple weeks of waiting for the shots to fully take effect— USS Ohio, lead ship of the class, will be one of the two SSGNs recycled. It will be the end of per CDC Guidelines—and after a four-decade career for the first sub of its kind. that perhaps a return to at least some normalcy, maybe even actual A New SSBN in-person subvet meetings once allowed back on base. We’ll see USS Ohio was commissioned in November, 1981. Ohio and the boats which followed were how it all goes. Fingers crossed (continued on page 28) here in the Yeoman’s Shack.—Jeff THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 1 From the Wardroom . . .
BASE COMMANDER - CO Dave Vanderveen 6061 Broadstone Circle Dave Vanderveen, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Base Commander 714-374-7349 [email protected] Shipmates and Ladies, VICE COMMANDER - XO Ed Barwick Last week, the Indonesian Navy lost one of their submarines and the 5408 Lanai Street fifty-three souls aboard her. She had been operating in an area of Long Beach, CA 90808 comparatively shallow water when contact with her was lost, so there had been some 562-425-6877 [email protected] hope of finding her and rescuing the crew. Some debris and an oil slick were found within days, then on Saturday, April 24th, a remote operated vehicle found her wreck- SECRETARY - OPS age at 2,750 feet in a trench that runs through the otherwise shallow area. Early analysis Bill Moak 2865 Helm Street of wreck photographs indicate the boat imploded, and there is no evidence that she was Simi Valley, CA 93065 damaged by an external explosion. The Indonesian Navy continues to evaluate evidence 805-581-4419 they have found, expecting they will learn the cause of KRI Kanggala’s loss with her [email protected] entire crew. A tragedy such as this gives all submariners pause. As we think of those lost, TREASURER - WEPS let us also consider their families. Sailors, rest your oars. Mike Swanson 1149 W. Santa Cruz Street Our own Memorial Day is fast approaching! Unfortunately, constraints remain in place San Pedro, CA 90731 limiting the size and scope of events to occur on Federal property, so we will plan to 310-832-5981 [email protected] conduct a “mini ceremony” on May 31st at the WWII Submarine Memorial - West for submariners and other service members who have lost their lives. If you plan to attend, CHIEF OF THE BOAT - COB please send a note to Paul Riggs ([email protected]) so he can be aware of crowd Ray Teare size as he plans our ceremony. 602 E. Mountain View Ave. Glendora, CA 91741-2765 626-831-5463 As COVID’s hazard diminishes, some businesses and social organizations are ramping [email protected] up their activities, although it will be some time before they return to “normal.” One of those organizations is the Scouts of America (BSA), which has been unable for the past MEMORIAL DIRECTOR Paul Riggs year to hold award ceremonies for scouts who have earned their Eagle rank. Ed Barwick 7708 Rapids Drive has agreed to coordinate with the local BSA Councils as they schedule Eagle award Huntington Beach CA 92648 ceremonies, and our Base may be able to participate in some of these. I will be available 714-642-1623 for that, and proudly recollect my own Eagle ceremony in April of 1964. [email protected]
IMMEDIATE PAST COMMANDER Though the danger level decreases, please continue to protect your health with proper Bill Moak distancing and hygienic measures. Vaccines will likely protect those inoculated, but there are still “carriers” about, and it would be terrible to become a COVID casualty so L.A.-PASADENA BASE WEBSITE www.socalsubvets.org near to the end of the pandemic. Dave Vanderveen The Periscope is a monthly publication of the Commander Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of USSVI Los Angeles-Pasadena Base
Newsletter Editor Jeff Porteous 15127 Matisse Circle La Mirada, CA 90638-4733 714-709-6584 [email protected]
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 2 Minutes of April 17, 2021 General Meeting on Zoom
Base Commander Dave Vanderveen called the Zoom General Meeting to order at 1105 hours.
COB Ray Teare then led us in prayer with an invocation, followed by Dave’s reading of the USSVI Purpose, then followed by a request for a moment of silence for our departed April Zoom shipmates. Gen’l. Meeting Treasurer’s Report: Sailing List Armen Bagdasarian Mike Swanson provided monetary details for the account as of April 16, 2021. The specific numbers have been approved by, and are reported within the E-Board Meeting Minutes. Herb “Bo” Bolton Sam Higa Memorial Report: Joe Koch Jack Mahan Paul Riggs reported that the Memorial site is in “good shape,” and detailed the work recently performed there on the trees and hedges surrounding the Memorial. Paul Bill Moak also indicated he had again put coat of copper paint on the nose of the torpedo, and Bruce Neighbors that another couple to few coats might be required. Paul reported that no public Jeff Porteous ceremony will be performed there this Memorial Day, due to the Base’s restrictions, Paul Riggs though the latter may be lifted by that date. Even so, preparations for conducting a Chuck Senior public ceremony generally begin in January, and such short notice would make it impossible to carry things out. Paul has indicated he will be present at the site on Mike Swanson Memorial day to raise and lower the colors, and invites any L.A.-Pasadena Base Ray Teare members to attend a private mini-ceremony to begin at 0930 that morning. Dave Vanderveen Ron Wagner Eagle Scout Program: Dennis Walsh Dave indicated that in the past, Ed and Judy Arnold had headed this program. Now Gary Wheaton that Ed has had to back off from these responsibilities—and our Base operations as well—some discussion ensued as to Ed Barwick perhaps stepping in to pursue the continuance of said program for the base. Dave will continue to discuss this possibil- ity with Ed, who wasn’t present today. Dave went on to describe the rank of Eagle Scout, and the work each scout must perform to attain this elite status.
Membership Update:
Dave had hoped Marilyn would be attending the meeting today to provide a detailed update, yet was still proud to report we now have 107 members and that our base is quite healthy in both membership numbers and financially as compared to some other bases nationally.
(concluded on next page)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 3 Minutes of April 17, 2021 General Meeting on Zoom (concluded from previous page)
District Six Commander::
Willie, today in attendance at the Arizona Memorial dedication, will not be con- tinuing as District Six Commander. Dave has heard nothing from other bases as to volunteer(s) for the position, nor has anyone from our base stepped up. Willie’s spot will be a tough one to fill.
Awards Nominations:
A low number of nominations have been submitted due to COVID-19. Bill suggested Dennis Walsh be recognized for his extended service as base secretary.
National Convention:
There has been some concern expressed about the number of boat reunions to be held concurrent with the convention. There are essentially only four available confer- ence rooms to host them, beyond those already planned to be occupied by National. Reunion groups have been cautioned to submit early any requests for those available.
Good of the Order:
Bruce inquired as to when we might finally be conducting in-person meetings again. All indications are we won’t be doing so in Building Six on the base, so he asked about alternative locations. A park perhaps? Dave will look into when we might actually be able to return to meeting on the base. It was mentioned that San Diego Base is still locked down and not conducting meetings.
Paul will contact Greg Smith, SBNWS POA, with an update in May, likely at the end of month, regarding ongoing base restrictions. Gary mentioned the Blue Angels perhaps doing a Huntington Beach show in October. Questions regarding the HB Fourth of July parade were raised, and indications are that it will likely be held. Bo is awaiting official word and receipt of paperwork for same. Our hope is that we can Blurry screen capture participate and include Bonefish Base also. Sam asked to mention “Boy’s State,” a pro- of USS Redfish surfac- gram that usually involves high school juniors, which teaches how our government ing during the filming works. The program even sends some participants to DC as a representatives of their of Run Silent, Run localities. There is also a similar program for girls. Deep—a remarkably bad submarine movie With no further comments, Bill made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Paul and poorly adapted from approved by general vote, and the meeting concluded at 1141 hrs. perhaps the best sub- marine novel of all Respectfully submitted, time by Capt. Edward Bill Moak L. Beach. Indeed, The Secretary, L.A.-Pasadena Base, USSVI Great American Novel in the opinion of your humble editor.—ed.
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 4
Ship’s Store New Reduced Price on T-Shirts! Our ever-popular L.A.-Pasadena Base “Submarine Service” tees are once again selling like fresh whites after a fall down the pump room hatch! USSVI Logo Patch May Meeting to be Now a mere ten bucks apiece, there’s (9¾x6¾) no reason not to have a closetful. $11.00 ea. May Contact Jack Mahan for yours, or Zoom VideoMeeting Conference just bring a few extra bucks to the (See detailsDate: on Chapter May 15, News 2021 page.) next meeting, you skinflint! Again this month, our usual base meeting will be conducted as a Zoom video 2021 Calendars Now Available! conference. This software for Get yours through the USSVI website L.A.-Pasadena internet-based meetings has or see details elsewhere in this issue. Base Patch been working well for many Don’t miss it—they’re selling fast! (3¾x5)
USS Barbel Barbel entered, the the lead Portsmouth ship in the Naval Navy's Shipyard last class for of alterations conventionally-powered which moved her submarines diving planes built from in the the 20th hull century, near the was bow commissioned to the submarine's on 17 sail. January In 1973 1959. Barbel In January 1961, division set a SUBPAC record for successfully shooting 118 torpedoes thatUSS year BARBEL and was (SS awarded -580) the Battle Efficiency "E". In 1978 She succeeded in a simulated "sinking" of groups wanting or needing the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN-65) during Exercise RIMPAC. From 1988 until her decommissioning in 1989, $5.00 ea. who was the first African-American Navy enlisted man to rise to become a submarine commander.
Barbel was commanded by Commander William’s F. weapons Bundy
to remain “face-to-face” e a C ub at the crisis’ forefrontt if?” where misses a Russian the key insurrection part of a message threatens commanding a rebel nuclear her to strike preemptively on America, launch and her the weapons. U.S. Navy Does ballistic she go ahead and fire, perhaps saving her country yet risking global holocaust? Or does she work toward completed communications, truly expecting a full stand-down? Hollywood favorites Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman lock horns over this end-of-the-world scenario in a movie of nightmare action. But the Navy would not condone its perceived realism by cooperating with the production. So director Tony Scott was actually quite lucky in acquiring a shot of the submerging Ohio-class USS Alabama (SSBN-731—the sub of the story, hence the “Crimson Tide” reference). Elsewhere in the film, this missile sub is “played by” USS Barbel diesel-electric boat already partially scrapped at the time. In fact, the dockside scene where the captain addresses his crew was actually during the global pandemic. Barbel filmed at the scrapyard, where a plywood mockup of the conning tower was erected in place of the one already missing from
January 2021 (SS-580), a retired (Five Submarines and 318 men lost)
Sunday . See the Chapter News page Monday
Tuesday Wednesday The scene in which the USS Alabama is diving for the first time, “Underway on Nuclear Power” is footage of the real Alabama submerging. — Eugene P. Wilkinson Thursday CO – USS Nautilus Friday Saturday for details. Hope to see your 3 1 4 2 5 6 7 New Year’s Day 10 8 smiling face among the crowd! 11 SCORPION (SS-278) 1944 9 12 13 ARGONAUT (SS-166) 1943 14 17 15 18 SWORDFISH (SS-193) 1945 16 19 20 21 24* Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 22 31 25 23 26 S-36 (SS-141) 1942 27 *S-26 (SS-131) 1942 28 29 May Birthdays SOLD OUT!30 Holland Club We hereby extend the happiest Member Patch (3x3) of wishes to all our L.A.-Pasa- Get in touch with our Storekeeper, Jack Mahan, $6.00 ea. dena Base birthday celebrants. at 714-349-5878 for more purchasing information. Jeff Porteous...... 5/4 David Palagyi...... 5/7 LOS ANGELES - PASADENA BASE Robert Miller...... 5/7 Doc Dunham, MD...... 5/10 Cliff Murr...... 5/13 Bruce Evan Neighbors.... 5/17 2021 FLOWER FUND Michael Bircumshaw...... 5/18 Dennis Bott...... 5/19 and BOOSTER CLUB Mike Swanson...... 5/21 A special thank you to the following folks whose generous contributions this year have helped make our Base activities and charitable functions possible:
We’re always watching Ken Dorn (x5!) • Jack & Marlene Mahan • Sally Moran for good stuff for Ed Kushins • Skip Loveless • Mike Varalyia • Harold Staggs The Periscope. Won’t you submit Booster Club and Flower Fund donations are welcome in any something? amount and are often also popular with 50/50 Drawing win- —ed. ners at our Base meetings. Contributions can be made in cash or by check payable to L.A.-Pasadena Base of USSVI. Checks may also be sent to Mike Swanson at 1149 W. Santa Cruz Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. To ensure proper credit, be sure to indicate Booster Club or Flower Fund on your check.
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 5 UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE LOSSES UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE LOSSES UNITEDUNITEDUNITEDUNITED STATESSTATESSTATES STATES SUBMARINESUBMARINESUBMARINE SUBMARINE FORCEFORCEFORCE FORCE LOSSESLOSSESLOSSES LOSSES UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE LOSSES ON ETERNAL PATROL UNITEDUNITEDUNITEDUNITED STATES STATES STATESSTATES SUBMARINE SUBMARINE SUBMARINESUBMARINE FORCE FORCE FORCEFORCE LOSSES LOSSES LOSSESLOSSES ONONONON ETERNALETERNALETERNAL ETERNAL PATROLPATROLPATROL PATROL ON ETERNAL PATROL “I can assure you that they went downON fighting ETERNAL and that their PATROLbrothers who survived ONONONON ETERNAL ETERNAL ETERNALETERNAL PATROL PATROL PATROLPATROL them took a grim toll of our savage enemy to avenge their deaths.” UNITED“I“I“I “Ican cancan can assure assureassure assure STATES you youyou you that thatthat that they theythey they went wentwentSUBMARINE went down downdown down fighting fightingfighting fighting andandand and that thatthat thatFORCE their theirtheir their brothersbrothersbrothers brothers LOSSES who whowhowho survivedsurvivedsurvived survived “I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived “I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived “I “Ican can assure assure you you that that they they went went down down fighting fighting and and that that their their brothers brothers who who survived survived — Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN “I can“I can assure assurethemthemthemthem you took tooktook you took that a aathat grim agrimtheygrim grim they toll wenttolltoll toll wentof ofof downofour ourour our down savage savagesavage fighting savage fighting enmy enmyenmy enmy and to andtotothat toavenge avengeavenge that avenge their their their theirtheirbrothers their brothers deaths.” deaths.”deaths.” deaths.” who whosurvived survived them took a grim toll of our savage enmy to avenge their deaths.” themthem took took a grim a grim toll toll of ofour our savage savage enmy enmy to toavenge avenge their their deaths.” deaths.” them took a grim toll of our savage enmy to avenge their deaths.” themthem took took a grim a grim toll— ——toll ofVice — ViceVice Viceour Admiralof AdmiralAdmiral Admiralour savage Charles CharlesCharlessavage Charles A. enmyA.A. Lockwood, A.Lockwood,Lockwood, enmyLockwood, to USN avenge USNUSNto USN avenge their their deaths.” deaths.” — Vice— Vice Admiral Admiral Charles Charles A. Lockwood, A. Lockwood, USN USN — Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN — Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN — Vice— AdmiralVice Admiral Charles Charles A. Lockwood, A. Lockwood, USN USN APRIL TOLLING OF THE BOATS JUNEJUNEJUNEJUNE TOLLING TOLLINGTOLLING TOLLING OF OFOF OF THE THETHE THE BOATS BOATSBOATS BOATS JUNE TOLLING OF THE BOATS MAYMAYMAYMAY TOLLING TOLLING TOLLING TOLLING OF OF OFOF THE THE THE THE BOATS BOATS BOATSBOATS USS PICKEREL (SS-177) MAY TOLLING OF THE BOATS Lost on 3 April 1943 with the loss of 74 officers and men. Pickerel was lost off Honshu while on her seventh war patrol. The exact cause of her loss has never been determined, but her OP area contained several minefields. USSUSSUSSUSS HERRING HERRINGHERRING HERRING (SS (SS(SS (SS233) 233)233)ON 233) ETERNALUSSUSSUSSUSS R-12 R-12R-12 R-12 (SS (SS(SS (SS 89) 89)89) 89)PATROL USSUSSUSSUSS GOLET GOLETGOLET GOLET (SS (SS(SS (SS 361) 361)361) 361) USS SNOOK (SS-279) USSUSSUSSUSS HERRING HERRINGHERRING HERRINGUSSUSS LAGARTOUSSUSS LAGARTO (SS LAGARTO(SS (SSLAGARTO (SS--233)- 233)(SS233)- 233)(SS 371) (SS (SS371) 371) 371) USSUSS SCORPIONUSSUSS SCORPION SCORPION SCORPION (SSN (SSN (SSN 579)(SSN 579) 579) 579) USSUSS SQUALISUSSUSS SQUALIS SQUALIS SQUALIS (SS (SS 192) (SS (SS 192) 192) 192) USS HERRING (SS 233) USS R-12 (SS 89) USS GOLET (SS 361) Lost on 1 June 1944 with the loss of 80 men near Matsuwa Island. Herring was on her eighth war patrol and was Lost on 8 April 1945 with the loss of 88 officers and men. Snook ranks 10th in total Japanese tonnage LostLostLost on on on1 1 June 1June June 1944 1944 1944 with with with the the the loss loss loss of of of80 80 80men men men near near near Matsuwa Matsuwa Matsuwa Island. Island. Island. Herring Herring Herring was was was on on onher her her eighth eighth eighth war war war patrol patrol patrol and and and was was was USS LAGARTO (SS 371) USS SCORPION (SSN 579) USS SQUALIS (SS 192) conductingconductingconductingconducting a aa surface surfaceasurface surface attack attackattack attack when whenwhen when a aa shore shoreashore shore battery batterybattery battery spotted spottedspotted spotted her herher her and andand and made mademade made two twotwo two direct directdirect direct hits hitshits hits on onon onher herher her conning conningconning conning tower, tower,tower, tower, sunk and is tied for ninth in the number of ships sunk. She was lost near Hainan Island, possibly sunk USSUSS LAGARTO LAGARTO (SS (SS 371) 371) USS HERRING (SS-233) USScausingcausingcausingcausingUSS LAGARTO herLAGARTO herher her loss. loss.loss. loss. (SS Herring HerringHerring Herring (SS371) 371) was waswas was the thethe the only onlyonly only U.S. U.S.U.S. U.S. submarine submarinesubmarine submarine sunk sunksunk sunk by byby bya aa land landaland land battery. battery.battery. battery. by a Japanese submarine. LostLostLost Loston on 3on on3May May3 3 May May1945 1945 1945 1945 with with with with the the theloss the loss lossofloss of 88 of 88of men 88 88men men men near near near nearthe the theGulf the Gulf Gulf Gulf of of Siam. of Siam.of Siam. Siam. On On Onher On her hersecond her second second second war war war patrol,war patrol, patrol, patrol, she she shewas she was wassunkwas sunk sunk sunk by by the by bythe the the Lost on 1 June 1944 with the loss of 80 men near Matsuwa Island. Herring was on her eighth war patrol and was USSUSSUSSUSS R-12 R-12R-12 R-12 (SS (SS(SS (SS--89)-89)89)-89) radar-equippedradar-equippedradar-equippedradar-equipped minelayer minelayer minelayer minelayer HIJMS HIJMS HIJMS HIJMS Hatsutaka. Hatsutaka. Hatsutaka. Hatsutaka. This This This Thisminelayer minelayer minelayer minelayer was was was sunkwas sunk sunk sunk by by the by bythe theUSS the USS USS USSHawkbill Hawkbill Hawkbill Hawkbill (SS (SS (SS 366)(SS 366) 366) 366) twelve twelve twelve twelve days days days dayslater. later. later. later. USS LAGARTO (SS 371) USS THRESHER (SSN-593)conducting a surface attack when a shore battery spotted her and made two direct hits on her conning tower, LostLostLostLost on onon on12 1212 12June JuneJune June 1943 19431943 1943 with withwith with the thethe the loss lossloss loss of ofof of42 4242 42men menmen men near nearnear near Key KeyKey Key West, West,West, West, Florida FloridaFlorida Florida during duringduring during a aa practice practiceapractice practice torpedo torpedotorpedo torpedo approach. approach.approach. approach. The TheThe The cause causecause cause Lost on 3 May 1945 with the loss of 88 men near the Gulf of Siam. On her second war patrol, she was sunk by the waswaswasUSSwas USSprobably probablyprobably SCORPION probably SCORPION due duedue due to (SSN toto floodingto (SSNfloodingflooding flooding 589) 589) through throughthrough through a aatorpedo torpedotorpedoa torpedo tube. tube.tube. tube. TheTheThe The COCO CO CO andandand and two twotwo two otherotherother other men menmenmen ononon onthe thethe the bridgebridgebridge bridge survived, survived,survived, survived, asasas asdiddiddid did 18 1818 18 Lost 10 April 1963 withcausing the loss her loss.of 112Herring crewmembers was the only U.S. and submarine 17 civilian sunk by atechnicians land battery. during deep-diving USSUSS SCORPION SCORPION (SSN (SSN 589) 589) radar-equipped minelayer HIJMS Hatsutaka. This minelayer was sunk by the USS Hawkbill (SS 366) twelve days later. LostcrewcrewcrewLostcrewLost Lost22 members members22members “I Maymembers22 22May can May May1968 1968 onassure 1968on on1968 while onliberty libertywhileliberty libertywhile while returningyou returningat at atreturning returningthe at thatthethe the time timetime to theytime to Norfolk, of to ofNorfolk,toof ofthe Norfolk, wenttheNorfolk,the the accident. accident.accident. VA accident.downVA fromVA VA from from fromfighting a Mediterraneana Mediterraneana a Mediterranean Mediterranean and that deployment. deployment. theirdeployment. deployment. brothers Her Her Her Herlast last last reportedwholast reported reported reportedsurvived position position position position exercises. Fifteen minutesUSS after R-12 (SSreaching-89) test depth, communicated with that she Thresher USS Skylark wasUSSUSSUSSwasUSSwas aboutwas GOLET aboutGOLETGOLET aboutGOLET about 50 50 (SSmiles (SS50 (SS 50miles (SS -miles -361)miles-361)361) south-361) south south south of of the of theof theAzores. the Azores. Azores. Azores. Scorpion Scorpion Scorpion Scorpion was was was neverwas never never never heard heard heard heard from from from from again. again. again. again. The The The Theexact exact exact exact cause cause cause cause of of her of herof her lossher loss loss hasloss has has neverhas never never never USS SCORPION (SSN 589) Lost on 12 June 1943 with the loss of 42 men near Key West, Florida during a practice torpedo approach. The cause was having problems. Skylark heard noises like “air rushing into an air tank” — then silence. Rescue ship beenLostLostLostbeenLostbeenbeen ondetermined. onon determined. on 14 determined. 1414determined. 14June JuneJune June 1944 19441944 1944 with withwith with the thethe the loss lossloss loss of ofof of82 8282 82men. men.men. men. On OnOn On her herher her second secondsecond second war warwar war patrol, patrol,patrol, patrol, Golet GoletGolet Golet was waswas was apparently apparentlyapparently apparently lost lostlost lost in inin battlein battlebattle battle with withwith with Lost 22 May 1968 while returning to Norfolk, VA from a Mediterranean deployment. Her last reported position Recovery (ARS-43) subsequentlywas probably recovereddue to flooding bits through of debris, a torpedo including tube. The glovesCO and twoand other bits menof internalon the bridge insulation. survived, as did antisubmarineantisubmarineantisubmarineantisubmarine18 forces forcesforces forces north northnorth north of ofof ofHonshu. Honshu.Honshu. Honshu. crew members on liberty at the time of the accident. USSUSSUSSUSS SQUALIS SQUALIS SQUALIS SQUALIS (SS (SS (SS 192)(SS 192) 192) 192) was about 50 miles south of the Azores. Scorpion was never heard from again. The exact cause of her loss has never Photographs taken by Trieste proved that the submarine had broken up, taking all hands on board to PartiallyUSSUSSUSSPartiallyUSSPartiallyPartially BONEFISH BONEFISHBONEFISH BONEFISH flooded flooded flooded flooded (SS as (SS(SS as(SSa - as-223)result-aas223) 223) result- a223) a resultresult of of a ofvalveaof valvea a valve valvefailure failure failure failure during during duringduring a testa test a a testtestdive dive divediveoff off the off offthe theIslethe Isle IsleofIsle of Shoals, ofShoals,of Shoals,Shoals, Squalis Squalis Squalis Squalis sank sank sank sank to to the to theto thebottom, the bottom, bottom, bottom, coming coming coming coming been determined. their deaths in 1,400 fathomsUSS GOLET of water, (SS-361) some 220 miles east of Boston. toLostLostLostto restLostto restto on onon rest keelrest on 18keel 1818 keel 18Junekeel down JuneJune down June down down1945 1945 1945in 1945 in 240 within with240inwith with 240feet240 thefeet thethe feet ofthefeet loss ofloss losswater. ofloss ofwater. of ofofwater. water. 85of 8585Commander 85menCommander menmen Commander menCommander when whenwhen when sunk sunkCharlessunk Charlessunk Charles Charlesnear nearnear near Momsen Suzu MomsenSuzuSuzu Momsen SuzuMomsen Misaki. Misaki.Misaki. Misaki.and and and andNavyA A ANavy recipient ArecipientrecipientNavy Navy recipientdivers divers divers divers of onofof onthreeof three threetheon on threethe theUSS theNavy NavyNavyUSS NavyUSS USSFalcon Unit Falcon UnitUnit Falcon UnitFalcon Citations, (ASR-2)Citations,Citations, (ASR-2)Citations, (ASR-2) (ASR-2) BonefishBonefishBonefishBonefish was waswas was on onon onher herher her eighth eightheighth eighth war warwar war patrol. patrol.patrol. patrol. After AfterAfter After sinking sinkingsinking sinking a aa passenger-cargoman, passenger-cargoman,apassenger-cargoman, passenger-cargoman, Bonefish BonefishBonefish Bonefish was waswas was subjected subjectedsubjected subjected to toto ato aa savage savageasavage savage depth depthdepth depth rescuedrescuedrescuedrescued 33 33 survivors 33 33survivors survivors survivors using using using using the the thediving the diving diving diving bell bell bell hebell he invented. he heinvented. invented. invented. Twenty-six Twenty-six Twenty-six Twenty-six men men men men drowned drowned drowned drowned in in the in thein theafter the after after after compartments. compartments. compartments. compartments. Later, Later, Later, Later, USS SQUALIS (SS 192) Lost on 14 June 1944 with the loss of 82 men. On her second war patrol, Golet was apparently lost in battle with charge attack. She themwas the took last SubPaca grim submarine toll of our lost savage in World enmy War II.to avenge their deaths.” chargechargecharge attack. attack. attack. She She She was was was the the the last last last SubPac SubPac SubPac submarine submarine submarine lost lost lost in in Worldin World World War War War II. II. II. USS GUDGEON (SS-211)antisubmarine forces north of Honshu. SqualusSqualusSqualusSqualus was was was raisedwas raised raised raised and and and andrecommissioned recommissioned recommissioned recommissioned as as the as theas the USSthe USS USS USSSailfish Sailfish Sailfish Sailfish (SS (SS (SS192). (SS 192). 192). 192). In In an In Inan ironican anironic ironic ironic twist twist twist twist of of fate, of offate, fate, fate,Sailfish Sailfish Sailfish Sailfish sank sank sank sank the the the the Partially flooded as a result of a valve failure during a test dive off the Isle of Shoals, Squalis sank to the bottom, coming Lost on 18 April 1944 with the loss of 80 officers and men off Saipan. Winner of five Presidential Unit JapaneseUSSUSSUSSJapaneseUSSJapaneseJapanese S-27 S-27S-27 S-27 aircraft (SSaircraft (SS(SS aircraft (SSaircraft--132)-132)132) carrier-132) carrier carrier carrier Chuyo, Chuyo, Chuyo, Chuyo, which which which which was was wascarryingwas carrying carrying carrying some some some some of of the of theof thesurviving the surviving surviving surviving crew crew crew crew members members members members from from from from USS USS USS USSSculpin Sculpin Sculpin Sculpin (SS (SS (SS 191).(SS 191). 191). 191). to rest keel down in 240 feet of water. Commander Charles Momsen and Navy divers on the USS Falcon (ASR-2) USS BONEFISH (SS-223) ItLostLostLost ItwasLost ItwasIt on was ononSculpinwas onSculpin19 19 19Sculpin Sculpin19June JuneJune Junethat that1942 1942 1942that thathad1942 had when whenhad whenlocatedhad whenlocated located locatedit itit grounded itgroundedgroundedSqualus groundedSqualus Squalus Squalus in off inoffoff 1939. offin 1939.Amchitkain AmchitkaAmchitka 1939. 1939.Amchitka Only Only Only Only one Island. oneIsland.Island. one Island. ofone of the of S-27 theof S-27S-27 the21 S-27the 21 was Sculpin waswas21 21Sculpin was Sculpin on Sculpinonon onthe crewmembersthethe crewmembersthe surface crewmemberssurface surfacecrewmembers surface in inin poorin poor pooraboard pooraboard aboard visibility, aboard visibility,visibility, visibility, Chuyo Chuyo Chuyo Chuyo charging chargingsurvived.charging chargingsurvived. survived. survived. Citations, Gudgeon wasLost on on her 18 June 12th 1945 war with patrolthe loss ofwhen 85 men she when was sunk most near Suzu likely Misaki. lost A torecipient a combined of three Navy air Unit and Citations, batteriesbatteriesbatteriesbatteries and andand and drifted drifteddrifted drifted into intointo into the thethe the shoals. shoals.shoals. shoals. When WhenWhen When she sheshe she could couldcould could not notnot not be bebe befreed freedfreed freed and andand and started startedstarted started listing, listing,listing, listing, the thethe the captain captaincaptain captain got gotgot got the thethe the entire entireentire entire crew crewcrew crew rescued 33 survivors using the diving bell he invented. Twenty-six men drowned in the after compartments. Later, surface antisubmarine Bonefishattack. was Gudgeon on her eighth was war the patrol. first After sinkingU.S. submarine a passenger-cargoman, to go on Bonefish patrol was from subjected Pearl to a savageHarbor depth USStototoUSS shoreto USSshoreshoreUSS STICKLEBACK shore STICKLEBACK STICKLEBACK (400 STICKLEBACK (400(400 (400 yards yardsyards yards away) away)away)(SS away)(SS (SS415)(SS in 415)inin relays415)in 415)relaysrelays relays using usingusing using a aa three-man three-manathree-man three-man rubber rubberrubber rubber raft. raft.raft. raft. The TheThe The entire entireentire entire crew crewcrew crew was waswas was subsequently subsequentlysubsequently subsequently rescued. rescued.rescued. rescued. Squalus was raised and recommissioned as the USS Sailfish (SS 192). In an ironic twist of fate, Sailfish sank the LostLost on onMay May 30, 30, 1958 1958 when when it sank it sank off off Hawaii Hawaii while while under under tow tow after after collision collision with with USS USS Silverstein Silverstein (DE-534). (DE-534). The The entire entire after the Japanese attack.charge On attack. her Shefirst was thepatrol, last SubPac she becamesubmarine the lost infirst World U.S.War II.submarine to sink an enemy LostUSSUSSUSSUSSLost on O-9 O-9O-9 MayO-9on (SS-70) (SS-70)(SS-70) May (SS-70)30, 195830, 1958 when when it sank it sank off Hawaiioff Hawaii— Vice while Admiral while under Charles under tow A. towLockwood,after after collision USNcollision with with USS USS Silverstein Silverstein (DE-534). (DE-534). The The entire entire Japanese aircraft carrier Chuyo, which was carrying some of the surviving crew members from USS Sculpin (SS 191). warship, picking off the submarine I-173. crewLostLostLostcrewLostcrewcrew wason on onwas on 20was 20takenwas20 taken20June June Junetaken takenJune off 1941 off 19411941 prior off 1941off prior with prior withpriorwith towith to sinking.the tothe thesinking.to the sinking. loss sinking. lossloss loss of ofof of34 3434 34men menmen men when whenwhen when it itit foundered itfounderedfoundered foundered off offoff off Isle IsleIsle Isle of ofof ofShoals, Shoals,Shoals, Shoals, 15 1515 15miles milesmiles miles from fromfrom from Portsmouth, Portsmouth,Portsmouth, Portsmouth, NH. NH.NH. NH. It was Sculpin that had located Squalus in 1939. Only one of the 21 Sculpin crewmembers aboard Chuyo survived. USS S-27 (SS-132) USS GRENADIER (SS-210)Lost on 19 June 1942 when it grounded off Amchitka Island. S-27 was on the surface in poor visibility, charging USS STICKLEBACK (SS 415) Lost 22 April 1943 nearbatteries Penang and with drifted no into immediate the shoals. When loss she ofcould life. not Stalking be freed and a startedconvoy listing, during the captain her gotsixth the entire war crew Lost on May 30, 1958 when it sank off Hawaii while under tow after collision with USS Silverstein (DE-534). The entire to shore (400 yards away) in relays using a three-man rubber raft. The entire crew was subsequently rescued. patrol, Grenadier was spotted by a plane and dove. As she passed 130 feet, the plane dropped a bomb crew was taken off prior to sinking. causing severe damage.USS Lodged O-9 (SS-70) on the bottom at 270 feet, the crew spent hours fighting fires and flood- USSUSS STICKLEBACKUSSUSS STICKLEBACK STICKLEBACK STICKLEBACK (SS (SS 415) (SS (SS 415) 415) 415) USS BONEFISH (SS 223) USS S-27 (SS 132) USS O-9 (SS 70) ing. When Grenadier surfaced,Lost on 20 June she 1941 had with no the propulsion loss of 34 men and when was it foundered attacked off Isleby ofanother Shoals, 15 plane, miles from which Portsmouth, she NH. USSUSSUSS BONEFISH BONEFISH BONEFISH (SS (SS (SS223) 223) 223) USSUSSUSS S-27 S-27 S-27 (SS (SS (SS 132) 132) 132) USSUSSUSS O-9 O-9 O-9 (SS (SS (SS 70) 70) 70) shot down. When enemy ships arrived, the CO abandoned ship and scuttled the boat. Of the 61 crew- members taken prisoner, 57 survived the war.
USS STICKLEBACK (SS 415)
WEWEWEWEWEWEWEWE REMEMBER REMEMBER REMEMBERREMEMBERREMEMBER REMEMBER REMEMBERREMEMBER For For For ForFor For For thoseForthose those thosethose those those those whowho who whowho who who who gavegave gave gavegave gave gave gave theirtheir their theirtheir their their their liveslives lives liveslives lives lives lives inin in inin defensedefensein indefense defensedefensein defense defense defense ofof of ofof ourofour of our ourofour our our countryourcountry country countrycountry country country country WE WE WEWE WE WE WE WE REMEMBER REMEMBER REMEMBERREMEMBERREMEMBER REMEMBER REMEMBERREMEMBER USS BONEFISH (SS 223) USS S-27 (SS 132) USS O-9 (SS 70) WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE THETHEREMEMBERTHETHETHETHETHETHETHE PERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE PERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE PERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE •• • • • • June•• June June June June •June•• JuneJune 20092012 2010 2009 20122009201020122010 200920122010 867 867 867 867 THETHETHETHETHETHE THE PERISCOPETHEPERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE •• May May May•• May May • • •• May May 2009 2012May2010May 200920122010 2009 20122010 2009 20122010 76 76 76 76 THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 6 WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER
THETHE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE •• AprilApril 20102011 76 WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER
WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER MAY TOLLING OF THE BOATS THETHETHE PERISCOPEPERISCOPEPERISCOPE ••• MayMayMay 200920122010 76 THETHETHE PERISCOPE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE ••• JuneJuneJune 200920122010 687
USS LAGARTO (SS 371) USS SCORPION (SSN 579) USS SQUALIS (SS 192)
USS LAGARTO (SS 371) Lost on 3 May 1945 with the loss of 88 men near the Gulf of Siam. On her second war patrol, she was sunk by the radar-equipped minelayer HIJMS Hatsutaka. This minelayer was sunk by the USS Hawkbill (SS 366) twelve days later. USS SCORPION (SSN 589) Lost 22 May 1968 while returning to Norfolk, VA from a Mediterranean deployment. Her last reported position was about 50 miles south of the Azores. Scorpion was never heard from again. The exact cause of her loss has never been determined. USS SQUALIS (SS 192) Partially flooded as a result of a valve failure during a test dive off the Isle of Shoals, Squalis sank to the bottom, coming to rest keel down in 240 feet of water. Commander Charles Momsen and Navy divers on the USS Falcon (ASR-2) rescued 33 survivors using the diving bell he invented. Twenty-six men drowned in the after compartments. Later, Squalus was raised and recommissioned as the USS Sailfish (SS 192). In an ironic twist of fate, Sailfish sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Chuyo, which was carrying some of the surviving crew members from USS Sculpin (SS 191). It was Sculpin that had located Squalus in 1939. Only one of the 21 Sculpin crewmembers aboard Chuyo survived. USS STICKLEBACK (SS 415) Lost on May 30, 1958 when it sank off Hawaii while under tow after collision with USS Silverstein (DE-534). The entire crew was taken off prior to sinking.
USS STICKLEBACK (SS 415)
WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER
THETHE PERISCOPEPERISCOPE •• MayMay 200920122010 67 Critters Under the Sea: Navy Submarine USS Connecticut Invaded by Bedbugs (Reproduced from the New York Post website—published March 10, 2021; originally published by the Navy Times) By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Navy Times
A petty officer on the Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Connecticut alleges bed bugs have infested theUSN ship “for a year now.” (U.S. Navy photo.)
he crew of the fast-attack submarine Connecticut While sailors allege they battled bed bugs for most of has been subjected to a bed bug infestation 2020, Cmdr. Cynthia Fields, a Naval Surface Forces Pacific Tin their racks, and sailors assigned to the sub spokeswoman, said the boat’s command first reported the allege that the boat’s command has been slow to fix the issue in December, and that the “physical presence” of bed problem. bugs wasn’t found onboard until Feb. 19.
The infestation issue began while the sub was taking “Navy criteria for treating submarines or ships requires part in ICEX 2020 in the Arctic Ocean in March 2020 physical presence of bed bugs to establish existence,” she and continued during a deployment last year, according said. to a Connecticut petty officer who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. The petty officer said the command initially didn’t believe sailor bed bug claims because “we didn’t have proof.” “We’ve had bed bugs for a year now,” the petty officer said. “Sailors complained about getting bitten in the racks.” Daily inspections have commenced, all berthing spaces USN have been searched and mattresses have been inspected, “People are terrified of getting bit,” he added. Fields said. (continued on page 8)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 7 Bedbugs on the Connecticut… (continued from page 7)
fatigue takes on added consequence when underway in a metal tube far below the surface, he noted.
“If someone’s sleep deprived because they’re in the rack getting eaten alive by bed bugs, he could fall asleep at (the controls) and run us into an underwater mountain,” the petty officer said.
The petty officer said he also worries that fellow crew members will take bed bugs home to their spouses and kids. Bed bugs caught and bagged on the “I don’t’ want them to take bed bugs home,” he said. “They USS Connecticut. have to pay for fumigators and their families will suffer.” (Military Times photo.) Fields, the SUBPAC spokeswoman, said the command “acted swiftly” when reports of bed bugs were first made in Linens and privacy curtains have been laundered or replaced, December. and Navy entomologists have come onboard to monitor efforts that include “deadly countermeasures,” she said. “Inspections by the ship’s Corpsman did not find any of the classic indications of bed bugs, and were backed up “The Navy takes the safety and health of its sailors very by inspection from Preventative Medicine Technicians seriously,” Fields said. on Dec. 21,” she said. “Despite follow on inspections by certified inspectors that found no evidence of bed bugs, But according to two petty officers assigned to Connecticut, the command continued to pursue resolution.” the boat has been dealing with bed bugs since at least the time of the ICEX event in March, 2020. According to one petty officer who alleges that bed bugs were an issue on the sub for most of 2020, the command It got so bad that some crew members took to sleeping being unable to mitigate the bed bugs during deployment in chairs or on the floor of the crew’s mess to escape the was understandable given the limited resources while elusive bloodsuckers during their deployment, said one underway, but leadership also didn’t seem to believe the petty officer. crew when it came to the infestation until sailors caught a few of them. “People were getting eaten alive in their racks,” said the petty officer, who alleges that the infestation spread to Bed bugs are tiny and tenacious creatures that feed off several enlisted berthing spaces and at least one officer human blood and are notoriously hard to get rid of. stateroom. Their bites on sleeping humans can produce itchy welts, “The best way to put it would probably be ‘employee and they get their blood by piercing the skin with an abuse,’ but that’s not really a thing in the Navy, I guess,” elongated beak, according to the University of Kentucky’s another petty officer who also requested anonymity for Entomology Department. fear of retribution said of leadership’s response to the problem. “Engorgement takes about three to 10 minutes, but because the bite is painless, people seldom realize they are One petty officer said he has contacted the Naval Inspector being bitten,” according to the university. General and reached out to Navy Times because leadership hasn’t adequately addressed the issue, and sub life is When the boat returned to its Washington state home port stressful enough without bed bugs and the loss of sleep the in December, sailors say the command’s responses didn’t insects brought to the crew. fix the problem.
Sailors already share racks in the sub’s close quarters, and One solution was to steam the racks, so as to hopefully kill (concluded on page 9) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 8 Bedbugs on the Connecticut… (concluded from page 8) the bed bugs, but that didn’t work, sailors said. underway if they occur.”
The University of Kentucky notes that steaming alone One petty officer said that sub life and the operations often will not sufficiently penetrate the fabrics and other tempo already stress Connecticut’s crew enough, and that materials where bed bugs reside. morale is on the floor due to the bed bugs and a perceived lack of help. “Our steaming efforts throughout a monthlong stand- down proved to be fruitless,” the petty officer said. “They treat people like parts, and parts like people,” the petty officer said. Another petty officer said, “it caused the bed bugs to spread around the boat.” “The crew is tired from constant underways, a constant hurry-up-and-push mentality that’s just been going on for Sailors attempted to tape up the walls and caulk cracks, but years on end,” another petty officer said. the arrangement of racks made it impossible to completely seal up any entry or exit points for the bed bugs. To give crews a non-infested place to sleep on their duty days while in home port, the command set up a temporary The creatures can squeeze through openings as wide as a building on the pier, the petty officer said, but the “bunch toothpick, according to the University of Kentucky. of stanchions with a tarp set over the top and metal walls with cots” wasn’t comfortable for the sailors, so some slept Mattresses were removed and sanitized, one petty officer in chairs, the duty van or in the mess. said, but the bed bugs returned. “Some people were sleeping on metal diamond decking “Our senior leadership said, ‘if we clean and sanitize all because they didn’t want to sleep in the racks,” he said. these, and someone points out bed bugs, they are f*cking lying,” a petty officer alleged. One petty officer also wonders why the command didn’t consider other pierside berthing options for duty sections, The petty officers also allege that the command is forcing such as trailers, a barge or barracks. sailors to return to sleeping in the racks this week during training, when the entire sub’s crew will be onboard. “The one they chose was a makeshift building made out of stanchions and tape and World War II-era cots,” he “They’re using us as live bait…to see if (the bed bugs) said. “There’s not nearly enough racks for an entire duty are still there,” one petty officer said. “The upper chain of section, so people have also put up hammocks to sleep.” command isn’t going to sleep in those racks. They’re going to make the lower enlisted do it.” Asked about that pier berthing, Fields said that “approved berthing has been and will continue to be provided to “Tonight and tomorrow, we are lawfully ordered to sleep Connecticut sailors, including pier side berthing for duty in a known infested berthing area in order to record data personnel while (Navy officials) and the ship’s Corpsman that’s already been recorded,” another petty officer said addressed crew concerns.” Monday night.
In response to Navy Times questions about allegations that sailors are being forced back into infested berthing spaces, Fields said that Navy entomologists “have employed authorized countermeasures, and certify that all feasible measures have been taken to control bed bugs.”
“After two applications of Navy approved pesticide sprays, and application of a long-acting diatomaceous dust… entomologists recommended repopulation of berthing,” she said. “All appropriate countermeasures have been taken Seawolf-Class attack submarine USS Connecticut at a with plans firmly in place to address further breakouts port in Singapore on Jan. 30, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo.)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 9 started life with made operating thirteen-button blues a lot Torpedo Recovery easier than if we were to have left a couple of ’em behind by Bob “Dex” Armstrong and snorkeling around in the North Atlantic. If you weren’t a Torpedoman, you probably won’t give a A lot of very original cussing and swearing went on during rat’s ass about this. But it’s proof that even though it has a torpedo recovery. “Dumb bastard” and “Stupid sonuv- been damn near forty years, I still remember. The funny abitch” were favorites, followed by “Move your worthless thing about old submarine sailors…we remember. After all ass,” “How many gahdam times do I have to tell you friggin’ these years, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second if somebody idiots?” and “If it was up your butt you’d know where it was.” rounded up what’s left of Frothingham’s boys and told us to light off the old Fairbanks and single-up lines. In the forward room, the monkeys were centering a skid and elevating it with chain falls to match the angle of the When I first met Ray Stone, I did all the things required deck skid already in place. By this time, the clowns on the of members of the Torpedo Pusher Fraternity: I gave the bridge had located the torpedo—“fish” to the uninitiated. secret handshake. Hopped around on one foot. Did the It was usually bobbing around like a wallowing steel rhino. chicken dance and rooster strut. Barked at the moon and pissed against the wind. But then again, true torpedomen The OD would lay the boat alongside and the beast would never stop testing each other. So here goes, Stone, you old bounce off the saddle tanks making a sound like someone stove-up, barnacle-laden sonuvabitch, Dex is about to pull pounding the side of an empty oil truck with a twenty- a rabbit out of an old hydraulic, oil-soaked raghat. pound sledgehammer.
Punching torpedoes out of submarines is a helluva way By this time, the duty swimmer arrived topside and handed to make a living. In the old days, a damn torpedo was as something known as a “nose cap” to one of the two lads heavy as a bridge girder and about half a block long. After manning the snubbing lines that would be “figure-eighted” you fired one of those practice rascals, you had to go find it to the skid cleats to lower the fish onto the elevated skid in and poke the damn thing back into your boat. the forward room.
Finding them wasn’t that hard. They painted the warheads Any bastard who ever went over the side into the icy water a raucus orange. You could see them bobbing around a of the North Atlantic, to wrestle a two-ton torpedo and get couple of thousand yards away—looked like a damn snor- a belly band in place on one of the stupid sonuvabitches, keling Mardi Gras float. Or one of Stone’s ties. will get a fifty-yard line front row seat in hell. If there’s such a thing as peacetime heroes, thse guys are mine. If you But well before you hit the surface, the recovery drill be- are ever given a choice between putting silk stockings and a gan. The idiots in the forward room dropped the over- garter belt on a starved crocodile, or going over the side to head racks called the bridal suite: the elevated pair of rats’ slip a belly band on a Mark 14, go for the croc. nests that belonged exclusively to the stewards. Once you got them down and stowed, you dropped the collapsable So, the poor devil (now covered in petroleum jelly, thanks frame that allowed access to the watertight torpedo loading to the corpsman) hits the water. He gets the band in place hatch. You opened that when you heard the bow planes and attaches the hoisting cable and fore and aft vang lines rigged in; that meant you were fully surfaced. used to guide the damned thing, positioning it when the boom elevates it to deck level. The lads on the vang lines The deck force went topside and pulled the loading boom align the fish over the angled skid and the fellows on the components out of their “rig for sea” brackets in the super- boom lower it. Once the nose cap and snubbing lines were structure, and rigged ’em. This could be a real pain-in-the- in place to check the descent, the fish was returned to the ass adventure if the boat was riding the swells and water skid in the forward room. was sloshing through the gahdam limber holes. It was like trying to assemble a tricycle inside a washing machine. And that, señor Stone, was what it looked like to an E-3 who couldn’t find his ass with both While all this was going on, torpedomen went topside to hands and a flashlight on a dark night. fold back a section of deck whose underside was a wooden angled trough upon which a torpedo could be lowered to Will you now sign my qual card and guide the damn thing into the room. Rigging the stupid buy me a Saint Pauli Girl, you big, ugly sonuvabitch? thing was hell on fingers—not that any of us planned a future as a concert pianist, but we figured all the digits we Keep a zero bubble . . . Dex. THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 10 THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 11 New Members We proudly welcome aboard our newest base shipmates: “Get’cher Chapter News Here Robert “Mike” Cailor (returning) (EM1-SS E6; served ’64-’71) —Read All About It!”— Wife: Rebecca 2514 Elm St., Seffner, FL 33584-5812 When News Breaks, We Pick Up the Pieces... cell: 813-585-7615 [email protected] Qualified in 1968 on the Now Hear This: USS Guardfish (SSN-612) • L.A.-Pasadena May meeting to be held as a Zoom Edward “Ed” Elliot Kushins (LT-03SS; served ’68-’79) conference. (Dave Vanderveen will also provide Wife: Mary Hamilton phone participation info. via e-mail for those wishing 45 16th Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-3402 to again participate by teleconference call only.) phone: 310-345-3562 [email protected] • To access Zoom, type “Zoom.US” (without the Qualified on the USS Flasher quotation marks) into your internet browser, then (SSN-613)—’69-’71, LTJG. select “signup for free.” Set up your user I.D. and Ramon O. Aguilar (returning) (E5-ET Radio Div.; 1996-2001) passcode, then on meeting day prior to 11:00 a.m., 22736 Jody Lane just follow the steps to sign in. Or: just click on Dave’s Carson, CA 90745-3603 cell: 562-303-0866 e-mailed link to the meeting. [email protected] Qualified in 1998 on the USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705) Here’s a little more biographical information of interest on our old friend Gary Lee Wing Jack Herron, who you’ll recall departed on Eternal Patrol recently.—ed. (E6-STS1SS Sonar; 1985-1994; Air Force Reserve thru 2012) Jack “Hotrod” Herron - MOMM3(SS) Fiancé: Megan 612 Cooper Drive Placentia, CA 92870-2001 In August, 1945, Jack joined the submarine service as a cell: 707-373-8277 [email protected] Fireman aboard USS Cusk (SS-348). He was part of the Pre- Qualified in 1988 on the USS commissioning and New Construction Detail. In July of ’46, Jack Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) was transferred and assigned to USS Atule (SS-403), where he Vernon Paul “Max” Murphy (E5-EM2SS; served 1993-2000) took part in Operation Nanook. The purpose of this mission was Wife: Aom to assist in the establishment of advanced weather stations in 241 E. Elmwood Ave. Apt. 101 Burbank, CA 91502-2662 the Arctic regions and to aid in the planning and execution of cell: 818-395-7154 more extensive naval operations in polar and sub-polar regions. [email protected] Qualified in 1997 on the She was the first diesel boat to go under the ice, equipped with USS Jefferson City (SSN-759) the then newly developed upward-beamed fathometer for Bruce Evan Neighbors (E4-TM3SS; served ’68-’70) measuring ice thickness overhead. Jack was also part of USS Wife: Susan Toro (SS-422) re-commissioning crew in May, 1947. 3417 S. Carolina Street San Pedro, CA 90731-6827 USS CUSK (SS-348) • USS ATULE (SS-403) • USS TORO (SS-422) cell: 310-347-2350 [email protected] Sailor, Rest Your Oar. Qualified in 1969 on the USS Ronquil (SS-396) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 12 Los Angeles-Pasadena Base 2021 Calendar of Upcoming Events
January 16: Monthly Meeting as Zoom Conference L.A.-Pasadena February 20: Monthly Meeting as Zoom Conference Base 50-Year Holland Club March 20 Monthly Meeting as Zoom Conference (75-year members noted with *) April 17 Monthly Meeting as Zoom Conference Larry D. Long...... 2021 G. Judson “Jud” Scott, Jr.....2021 May 15 Monthly Meeting as Zoom Conference Edward E. Kushins...... 2020 Nominating Committee Appointed Bruce Evan Neighbors...... 2020 Call for participants in the Huntington David H. Vanderveen...... 2019 Beach 4th of July Parade (?) TBD Philip J. Jaskoviak...... 2019 May 31 Private Memorial Day Service - 0930 Dennis Bott...... 2018 James A. Burnett...... 2018 (L.A.-Pasadena Base Subvets Only - Robert “Mike” Cailor...... 2018 Public Service Disallowed by Weapons Station) Robert Miller...... 2018 Submarine Memorial, West John A. Anderson...... 2017 June 19 Monthly Meeting - Annual “Steakfest” Roger C. Dunham, MD....2017 Call for nominations for 2020 Base Officers Richard McPherson...... 2017 Harry “Bill” Moak...... 2017 July 4 113th Annual... Louis A. Myerson...... 2017 Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade Elliot Rada...... 2017 Ronald G. Wagner...... 2017 July 17 LeRoy Stone Memorial Picnic Dennis J. Walsh...... 2017 Bunker 33, Seal Beach Weapons Station Michael Kish...... 2016 August 21 Monthly Meeting - “Hawaii” Theme Gary Wheaton...... 2016 2020 Base Officer Candidates Announced Lawrence R. Butler...... 2015 Samuel T. Higa...... 2015 September 18 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING Harry P. Ross...... 2015 Election of Officers Stephen C. Rowe...... 2015 Charles H. Senior...... 2015 October 16 Monthly Meeting Larry E. Smith...... 2015 Annual Officer Installation Luncheon Sam Aboulafia...... 2014 David Palagyi...... 2014 November 20 Monthly Meeting - Thanksgiving Theme Dennis Neal Parr...... 2014 December 18 Annual Christmas Luncheon Earl Thomas Peratt, Jr...... 2014 at the Los Alamitos Golf Course David D. Semrau, DDS.....2014 Ray Tracy Teare...... 2014 (continued next page) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 13 (Holland Club Roster, continued) Milton Harry Boudov...... 2013 Kenneth Jon Dorn...... 2013 M. Mark Hoffer...... 2013 E-Board Zoom Conference Minutes of April 17, 2021 Michael P. Klein...... 2013 The Los Angeles-Pasadena Base, United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., E-Board Ronald L. Levenson...... 2013 Zoom Conference was conducted on the morning of Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Edward L. Arnold...... 2012 In attendance: T. Michael Bircumshaw.....2012 Raymond Cheesebrough..2012 • Dave Vanderveen, Base Commander • Bill Moak, Secretary Bobby O. Mahaffey...... 2012 • Mike Swanson, Treasurer John V. Mahan...... 2012 • Ray Teare, COB Lee Melody...... 2012 • Herb “Bo” Bolton, Committee Chair Clyde Matthew Turner...... 2012 • Chuck Senior, Committee Chair • Paul Riggs, Memorial Director George R. Walrath...... 2012 • Jeff Porteous, Periscope Editor John L. Weisenberger...... 2012 • Joe Koch, Member
Edward A. Barwick...... 2011 Base Commander Dave Vanderveen called the Zoom Conference to order at 1007 Joseph W. Koch, Jr...... 2011 hours, and the March meeting Minutes were approved via motion from Mike, Stephen D. Diumenti...... 2009 seconded by Dave, and approved by general vote. David Whittlesey...... 2009 Treasurer’s Financial Report: Mike Swanson Dennis A. Yure...... 2009 Armen Bagdasarian...... 2008 The Treasurer’s Report as of April 16, 2021 was read into the Minutes by Base Treasurer Mike Swanson: Bernard M. Kauderer...... 2008 Paul A. Riggs...... 2008 Checking $8,048.25 Savings $14,884.67 Rex L. Shields...... 2008 Cash On Hand $50.00 John L. Von Ulmen...... 2008 Uncleared Checks: $00.00 Francis R. Traser...... 2006 Total $22,982.92
Melquiades Mares, Jr...... 2005 All vendors have been paid up-to-date. Ronald K. Thompson...... 2004 Income: $100.00 Michael Varalyai...... 2004 Expenses: $33.00 Hughie T. Blackwell...... 2003 Flower/Booster Club Additions: Robert L. Conboy...... 2003 James Rogers...... 2003 Ken Dorn $100.00 Harold Staggs $100.00 John E. Savela, Jr...... 2003 Inkind Donations: Ben Van Devender...... 2002 Berry S. Yolken...... 2002 $00.00 James E. Carter...... 1999 Bill made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Paul, and William F. Long...... 1999 accepted as reported. Herbert J. “Bo” Bolton...... 1998 Kenneth E. Chunn...... 1998 Memorial Report:
*Clifford Bernard Murr....1996 Paul Riggs gave a summary of work that has been done on the site. He lauded *Royal Harrison, Jr...... 1995 efforts by the vendor for the landscaping work done. Paul reported that prospects *Sterling F. Higgins...... 1995 for a Memorial Day ceremony appear slim, as it does not appear the base restrictions will be lifted in time for preparations to be started. Normally such *Robert Clair Koplin...... 1995 preparation begins in January. Paul indicated that he invites all L.A.-Pasadena Base *Mark Maynard...... 1994 members to join him in a private mini-ceremony he will perform on that date at *William J. Dillon...... 1993 (concluded next page) *Harold Staggs...... 1992 THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 14 Navy Fast-Tracks E-Board Meeting Minutes… ‘On-Time’ Delivery (concluded from previous page) of Columbia Class the Memorial site. He will be there at 0930 to raise and lower the flag to half staff, and Subs are being engineered to perhaps even have a tolling of the boats. Dave mentioned that such a ceremony will be quietest, stealthiest ever. have to observe both maximum numbers allowed and social distancing while present. (From Warrior Maven website via Fox Dave will include reference to this mini-ceremony in his Wardroom comments, and News, published January 18, 2021.) Jeff indicated he will include it in the Base Calendar within the Periscope. by Kris Osborn The entire premise Eagle Scouts: of undersea strategic Dave is still looking for a volunteer to assume responsibilities for this program. Paul deterrence is based on the indicated that Judi Arnold might be a participant, even though Ed Arnold is no need for nuclear-armed longer active in Base or Scouts programs. ballistic missile submarines to hold potential attackers at risk of catastrophic New Members: destruction, without being Dave indicated that while new members numbers are increasing, they have been found, detected, or seen by offset by recent losses, i.e. Joe Lopez and Jack Herron. Dave indicated he spoke with enemies in any way. Shirley Herron, and that no public service will be performed for Jack that shipmates can attend. This reality, which is increasingly becoming more District Six Commander Position: complex for submarine weapons developers, might Willie Williamson will not be taking on another term in that position, so Dave explain why the Navy’s is asking for any volunteers willing to run for that position. Dave lauded Willie new Columbia-class, for performing, as Dave characterized it, in the proper manner of conducting the nuclear-armed ballistic business of that assignment. Dave hoped that whomever does fill the seat, he will missile submarines are continue in Willie’s outstanding manner. being engineered to be the quietest, stealthiest Awards: submarines ever to exist. Dave mentioned National’s awards program, and Bill suggested recognizing Dennis The new submarines will Walsh for his outstanding work as Base Secretary for an extended period of time. also need to be higher tech in the sense that they will For the Good of the Order: need to be less detectable, due in large measure to the Mike inquired as to the manner of payment for work done at the Memorial site, and reality that enemy platforms Paul explained that he took expenses personally incurred as a tax write-off. Dave then capable of submarine explained how such non-repaid expenses could be claimed as donations for IRS filings. detection are getting much more advanced through the Dave then inquired of Joe as to the status of potential services for his late wife, to use of longer-range, more eventually be performed at Riverside National Cemetery. Joe reported maximum sensitive sonar systems, attendance restrictions have yet to be eased, which he requires before he can plan services. harder to detect, long- endurance, small undersea sub-hunting drones and Paul inquired as to any special recognition for Harold Staggs. Dave mentioned the advanced methods of past Holland Club recognition in San Diego. aerial submarine detection; some of these detection With no further items, Ray made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mike and systems include the use of approved by general vote, and the meeting concluded at 1036 hrs. air-dropped sonobuoys, high-tech sub-hunting Respectfully submitted, surveillance planes and other systems, including the Bill Moak Secretary, L.A.-Pasadena Base, USSVI (continued on next page) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 15 Columbia Fast-Tracked… (continued from previous page) use of surface and shallow- depth laser scanner technologies engineered to Note that the following e-bulletins from Regional and National appear in these pages in the order received. The most recent information therefore appears toward the back.—ed. find subs on patrol.
In light of this kind of FOX Traffic: global equation, it is by Bulletins from USSVI—Regional and National no means surprising that the Chief of Naval Shipmates and Ladies, Operations Adm. Michael Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. Gilday’s CNO NAVPLAN Dave (Navigation Plan) text specifically cites the From: “USSVI POC: William C. Andrea”
The rapid and large-scale Shipmates, proliferation of undersea drones, many of them From the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs: being quite small, quiet, and less detectable by The VA is soon to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans, their spouses and care- submarine defenses, givers. For further information, go to the following link: presents an entirely new threat calculus for https://bit.ly/3lWPvNA submarine commanders who need to lurk quietly in If the link does not work by clicking on it, copy and paste it into your browser. undisclosed, undetectable, yet strategically vital Shipmates and Ladies, locations. Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. Dave The twelve submarines of the Columbia class are a From: USSVI POC: William C. Andrea
Also, the Chinese At this point we are at 76% of our room block commitment at the Rosen Shingle Creek continue to quickly build Resort. That is very encouraging. However, the number of convention registrations we new Jin-class, nuclear- have received is very, very low. If convention registrations were in line with hotel reserva- armed ballistic missile tions, we would have several hundred members registered for the convention. My concern submarines, platforms soon to be armed with (continued on next page)
(continued on next page) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 16 Columbia Fast-Tracked… (continued from previous page) USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… JL-3 long-range nuclear (continued from previous page) weapons. These new sub- launched JL-3 missiles is that members are waiting until after June 15th to see what we are going to do. After that introduce an ability for date they will send in their convention registrations. The problem with that is it will give Chinese submarines to us a false understanding of attendance and could cause the convention to be rescheduled hold larger portions of the to 2024 due to lack of attendance. continental U.S. at risk of a nuclear attack. The Convention Committee is asking everyone who is planning on coming to the 2021 convention to send in their convention registrations now, or at least prior to June 1st. We Given all this, the U.S. have nine boat reunions already scheduled so let’s keep the ball rolling and have a great Navy naturally needs 2021 convention in Orlando. Register today! larger numbers of highly- Jay D. Mack capable new ballistic missile 2021 USSVI Convention Chairman submarines—but perhaps to an even greater extent, the new submarines may Shipmates and Ladies, need to be the stealthiest Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. undersea platforms ever Dave to exist. This, interestingly, may in fact be the case From: “USSVI POC: William C. Andrea”
(continued on next page) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 17 Columbia Fast-Tracked… (continued from previous page) USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… (continued from previous page) hydraulic system, draw upon advanced computer automation to control submarine settings such How the Tricare Catastrophic Cap Affects Your Health-Care Costs: https://bit.ly/3dg06za as depth, speed, and other mission elements, of The VA Just Got $17 Billion in COVID Relief Money. Here’s How They Plan to Spend It: course when directed by https://bit.ly/3cAxa5G a commander. Copayment Debt: Refunds, Forgiveness: It is certainly quite likely https://bit.ly/39n9mQL that the Columbia may incorporate many as-of- Sweeping Measure Would Provide Care, Disability to Thousands of Vets Sickened by Burn yet unknown quieting Pits: technologies. One item https://bit.ly/3fmnTAd often discussed by senior Navy weapons developers is Groundbreaking VA Study Shows How Long COVID-19 Vaccine Immunity May Last: https://bit.ly/3wcsBqg its electric drive technology —the high-tech electrical VA Expects to Open COVID-19 Vaccines to All Vets by May 1: propulsion system is known https://bit.ly/2Pap4It to be much quieter than existing technologies and Biden Signs Sweeping New Law Allowing VA to Vaccinate All Veterans, Spouses: also brings very crucial https://bit.ly/39n9Kib added amounts of mobile electrical power to the submarine, systems of Shipmates and Ladies, great relevance given the Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. large number of advanced Dave electronics built into the From: “USSVI POC: William C. Andrea”
Honored to Serve,
Harold W (Bill) Scott II, STSCS(SS) USN RET. PRIDE RUNS DEEP USSVI National Awards Chair Central District 4 Commander Chief of the Boat, USSVI Central Texas Base CTB Newsletter Editor, 512-826-8876 Ad Still Here by Popular Demand! Shipmates and Ladies, Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. Dave
From: USSVI POC: William C. Andrea
Shipmates,
Just the Place for The 2021 2nd Quarter Edition of our American Submariner magazine is now posted on Killer MidRats! our National Website. Hey, know anyone on boats out of New London? Or, planning Open the USSVI website https://www.ussvi.org/home.asp a visit to Groton yourself? Log On with your Login Name and Password. Drop anchor at this local dive: Wings’n’Pies at 924 Route 12, Click on the blue “USSVI Magazine” button about half-way down the left-side menu just down the road from the Base’s Main Gate. Your editor Click on the top left button “Current Edition”. enjoys firsthand knowledge that the pizzas here are some All the Best, of the tastiest and sloppiest Wayne Standerfer around. Forget those extra National Commander napkins—just wipe your c/o greasy fingers on your shirt Michael “Willie” Williamson EN2/SS and they’ll think you’ve been WD6 Commander hanging out with the A-Gang! (909) 754-0326 cell (continued on next page) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 19 USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… (continued from previous page) ent award this year. Remember, no photos and font size 12pt, and preferably in Word Document format for all nomi- nations except for NLOY. See the Awards Manual for NLOY guidance.
When sending your nominations, be sure to include the nominee’s base, base position, BC’s name and address. In addition for the NLOY award nominations, include the editor’s name. I’m also suggesting the inclusion of the District Commander’s name and address also for mailing awards to the recipient in case the recipients aren’t at the convention.
Nominations as of 3/5: 1 – Negri Award, 4 – Link Awards, 1 – Meritorious Base Award, 1 – DCOY, and 1 – NLOY. I am looking for someone familiar with the Awards program who might be interested in assisting me at the convention to organize the awards (plaques, patches, certificates, etc.). Thanks go out to those members at the meeting for volun- teering to help me at the convention.
Honored to Serve, Harold W (Bill) Scott II, STSCS(SS) USN RET. USSVI National Awards Chair Central District 4 Commander Chief of the Boat, USSVI Central Texas Base CTB Newsletter Editor, 512-826-8876
SoCal Shipmates and Ladies,
Here’s information about services for Collie O’Gorman, a Bonefish Base shipmate who has departed on Eternal Patrol. Bonefish and L.A.-Pasadena Bases began collaborating on the Annual Independence Day Parade in Huntington Beach some years back, and Collie was with us every year. He had a LOT of good stories about his experiences, and it was a pleasure to spend time with him.
Dave
From: Michael Williamson
Ahoy,
I was just talking with Shipmate Rocky Rockers and he asked me when Colly’s celebration of life was. I had to look up my registration and thought maybe it could sneak up on some more of us. Check the link here on Evite: Free Online Invitations, Premium Cards and Party Ideas | Evite—the site used by Colly’s son:
Columba Broome O’Gorman Hosted by: Shawn O’Gorman Sunday, April 11 at 11:00 AM PT Monteleone Meadows - 35245 Briggs Road Murrieta, CA 92563 If you have registered, I hope to see you there to honor our shipmate.
V/R Willie
Michael “Willie” Williamson EN2/SS WD6 Commander (909) 754-0326 cell
(Too late to participate via this notice, I realize, but included here anyway in case some hadn’t learned of his passing.—ed.)
(continued on next page) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 20 USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… (continued from previous page)
Shipmates, Ron Wagner’s note below may be of help to those of you who do “business” with the Veterans’ Administration. Dave
From: Ron Wagner
Hi Dave,
I tracked down the rumor that vet VA copays were to be either suspended or forgiven to this front page: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5639
I call attention to the second bullet.
I have been using the VA for my HMO since 2001. I have been receiving a bill at the end of each month that I have received services. Those were suspended in March, 2020, and came due for $428 through 11/16/20, just before the first hip replacement. I paid that. Then with a due date 1/21/21, I received another for near $2000, including the hip replacement hospital stay and drugs issued. Due to my protesting about $300 for drugs I say were sent in error, I have not yet paid that bill. Now it looks like that debt may be forgiven. I will know for sure when I receive a credit for that $428 paid last November.
So it looks like no charge for VA health care services for vets through 30 September, 2021.
Note that there is a link to the printable version midway down on the left.
I hope this is useful for other vets like me.
Ron
Shipmates and Ladies, Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. Dave
From: USSVI POC: William C. Andrea
Attention Boat Reunion Coordinators!
At the present time we have 10 boat reunions tying up at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort during the 2021 USSVI Na- tional Convention. The Rosen has graciously offered four complimentary suites to be used by those boat reunions. Ob- viously, we can’t reasonably divide those four suites between ten reunions. So, we are going to have a raffle of sorts. Our Convention Boat Reunion Coordinator, Ozzie Osentoski, will choose a number between 1 and 100. Any boat reunion coordinator who would like a chance to win the use of one of those suites also needs to choose a number between 1 and 100. You will then send an e-mail to National Commander Wayne Standerfer at [email protected] with the number you choose by no later than April 30,2021. On May 1st, Wayne Standerfer will find the four numbers closest to Ozzie’s number and those will be the winners. An email will be sent to all participants showing the drawing results.
Any boat reunions who have not made arrangements to have their reunion during the convention, but who would like to do so, can contact Ozzie prior to the April 30th deadline if you would like to participate in this raffle.
(continued on next page)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 21 USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… (continued from previous page)
The convention room rates will be valid August 28 thru September 5, 2021.
Contact Ozzie Osentoski at [email protected] with comments or questions.
Current boat reunions at the convention are: Andrew Jackson, Gato, Hardhead, John Marshall, Los Angeles, Pintado, Ronquil, Sam Rayburn, Skate and Theodore Roosevelt.
Jay D. Mack 2021 Convention Chairman
Shipmates and Ladies, Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. Dave
This one’s near and dear to my heart, since I’m proud to now be an Associate Editor for American Submariner magazine, working for our own Chuck Senior.—Jeff
From: “USSVI POC: William C. Andrea”
All bases, all members, now hear this:
The gmail account for the American Submariner magazine is no longer used for magazine submissions. Effective im- mediately, ALL submissions intended for the magazine should be sent exclusively to: [email protected]
Please refer to the attached publication guidelines before submitting your material.
All other correspondence related to the publication should be sent to: [email protected]
Other pertinent contact information is listed quarterly in the publication sidebar on page 4.
Below is a copy of the publication guidelines.
The American Submariner is published quarterly. Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis, but submissions for consideration in specific issues must be received on or before these deadlines:
Spring Issue: December 1 • Summer Issue: March 1 • Autumn Issue: June 1 • Winter Issue: September 1
Submission does not guarantee publication. All submissions should include the author’s name, telephone number, and email address at the top of the first page.
Document Format: Articles are accepted in the following formats: .doc, .docx .odt, .rtf, or .txt.
Style: The American Submariner does not require many specifics, but we do strive for correctness and consistency. Please observe the following when typing your document:
• Use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen.
(continued on next page)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 22 USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… (continued from previous page)
• Use the final comma in a series of three or more elements: (i.e. cat, dog, and mouse).
• Spell out numbers below 100 (i.e. five, eight, thirty-two, seventy-five, etc.)
• Format dates as October 5, 2021 rather than 1 October 2021.
• The period and comma always go within the quotation marks. The dash, semicolon, question mark and exclamation point go within the quotation marks when they apply to the quoted matter only. They go outside when they apply to the whole sentence.
• Ship names should not be in all caps. USS Virginia, not USS VIRGINIA.
• Hull numbers should be placed in parentheses and be hyphenated. USS Texas (SSN-775).
• Subvets should be one word, all lowercase except when starting a sentence.
Photos: Images should be supplied digitally and in high-resolution, preferably the original unedited image from the camera. Send images as separate attachments—do not include them within the body of the article. Both color and black and white are acceptable. Please include a brief description identifying who and what is depicted.
Editing: The American Submariner reserves the right to edit submissions for publication due to space constraints, grammatical correctness, writing quality, clarity, etc. Submitting your Article:
Contributions should be emailed to [email protected]. Files and images too large to email can be sent via sendthisfile.com. Hard copy submissions are discouraged.
By submitting material for publication, the writer agrees to hold American Submariner harmless and assumes full responsibility for permission to publish all content, including photos and graphics. Be aware that much of the content found on the internet (written material, photos, graphics, etc.) is subject to copyright protection and should not be used unless determined to be in the public domain, or permission to use is granted to the American Submariner in writing by the copyright holder.
Fraternally, Chuck Senior Editor, American Submariner
Shipmates and Ladies, Forwarding USSVI correspondence to L.A.-Pasadena Base members. Dave
From: USSVI POC: William C. Andrea
Another reminder for you about USSVI National Awards Nominations and important deadlines. This is the last call for all nominations except the NLOY award nominations which are due as noted below.
Nominations as of 4/24: Joe Negri Award (2) • Robert Link Awards (29) • DCOY Nominations (3) • Meritorious Indi- vidual Awards (7) • Meritorious Base Award (3) • Ben Bastura Award (1) • NLOY (4). (concluded on next page)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 23 USSVI Regional and National News Bulletins… (concluded from previous page)
April 30 – All nominations except the NLOY awards are due to me NLT close of business on that day.
May 15 - All NLOY nominations are due to me NLT close of business on that day. I will then send all nominations to the committee chairs for tabulation and selof award winners. Refer to the Awards Manual for other deadlines.
Nominations received after those deadlines will not be considered, and the sender will be notified. If mailing nominations via snail mail, they must be postmarked no later than that day to be considered.
When preparing your nominations, be creative and don’t use the “cookie cutter” method of taking a previous write-up, changing the names of previous nominations and adding new activity. This applies particularly for those shipmates who were previously nominated, but did not get selected and who are still deserving of that particular award, or for a different award this year. Remember, no photos and font size 12 pt, and preferably in Word Document format for all nominations except for NLOY. See the Awards Manual for any additional guidance.
When sending your nominations, be sure to include the nominee’s base, base position, BC’s name and address. In addition for the NLOY award nominations, include the editor’s name. I’m also suggesting the inclusion of the District Commander’s name and address also for mailing awards to the recipients in case they aren’t at the convention.
Honored to Serve, Harold W. (Bill) Scott II, STSCS(SS) USN Retired USSVI National Awards Chair, Central District 4 Commander Chief of the Boat, USSVI Central Texas Base CTB Newsletter Editor, 512-826-8876
Send three American Submariner subscriptions to your favorite boat! nge! • Sponsorhip is only $30 a year u $ hePl • Add a USSVI Calendar for only 7 more t Mail your USSVI Boat Sponsorship Program check to: P.O. Box 3870 e Silverdale, WA 98398-3870 k Please indicate BSP and the name of the sponsored boat or organization in Ta the memo field of your check
✓ Reach potential new members by sending three annual subscriptions of American Submariner to the boat or SUBMARINES IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SPONSORS organization of your choice USS Columbia (SSN-721) USS Montana (SSN-794) Questions? ✓ First-time sponsors receive a USS Connecticut (SSN-22) USS North Dakota (SSN-784) Jack Messersmith Boat Sponsorship Patch USS Delaware (SSN-791) USS Kentucky Blue (SSBN-737) (928) 227-7753 ✓ All sponsors entered into the USS Greeneville (SSN-772) USS Kentucky Gold (SSBN-737) or e-mail quarterly Boat Model Giveaway USS Helena (SSN-725) USS Maine Blue (SSBN-741) [email protected] drawing (one entry per USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795) sponsorship)—a $500 value
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 24 Russia’s Monster Submarines Are Even Scarier Than You Imagined It’s hard to grasp the sheer size of the Typhoon-class subs, the biggest ever built. (Reproduced from the Popular Mechanics website—published March 3, 2021.) by Kyle Mizokami
USN
Typhoon-class submarine in Murmansk. (Georges DeKeerle/Getty Images.)
f you’ve ever seen The Hunt for Red October, you’re prob- Petersburg’s Rubin Design Bureau to squeeze in such unprec- ably familiar with Russia’s truly massive Typhoon-class edented perks as a solarium, swimming pool, and sauna. submarines. These Cold War giants still stand as the largest subsI ever built. The first submarine in the Typhoon class, Dmitri Donskoy (TK-208), entered service in 1981. Russia built five Typhoons in Just how big are we talking? Each submarine stretched to total, but today, only Donskoy remains in service. The sub has nearly 600 feet long and was wider than the average American spent its post-Cold War career as a test bed for a new genera- house—and almost three times as tall, to boot. tion of Russian submarine technologies and missiles, and was instrumental in testing the buggy Bulava submarine-launched In the 1970s, the Soviet Union embarked upon a new nuclear ballistic missile. weapons program (code name: Typhoon) to develop a new missile-firing submarine and nuclear missiles. The subs (code The images above, which undersea warfare authority H.I. Sutton name: Akula) were designed to be 566 feet long, 76 feet wide, created, show the Typhoon in relation to the American Ohio- and nearly 38 feet tall. class ballistic missile submarines and the average American house. While the Typhoon-class subs are only 17 feet longer The Typhoon-class submarines displaced 23,200 tons in order than the Ohio boats, they’re considerably wider and taller. to accommodate a payload of twenty RSM-52 ballistic missiles. Although most subs are relatively spartan in amenities, the A Typhoon sub looks so menacing because its sail (also known sheer size of the Typhoons made it possible for engineers at St. as the conning tower) is located behind the missile silos instead (continued on page 26) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 25 Russia’s Monster Subs (continued from page 25)
Cutaway of a Typhoon-class submarine. Note that the submarine still retains torpedo tubes. (H.I. Sutton/Covert Shores Image.) of in front of them, meaning the missiles are always included in yield of 16 kilotons.) any picture of the sub. The Red October came packed with a magnetohydrodynamic The titular Red October was supposed to be a fictional super- drive (MHD) system, a real-life propulsion system that suppos- variant of the Typhoon class, equipped with six more RSM-52 edly gave the ship a first strike capability. In both The Hunt for missiles, for a total of 52,000 kilotons of nuclear firepower. (The Red October and the novel on which it was based, the sub was atomic bomb exploded at Hiroshima, by comparison, had a designed to use its near-silent MHD propulsion to sneak to a
The Typhoon class compared to the Ohio-class ballistic missile subs and the average American house. (H.I. Sutton/Covert Shores Image.)
(concluded on page 27) THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 26 Russia’s Monster Subs (concluded from page 26)
The Borei-class missile submarine Kynaz Vladimir (Count Vladimir) arrives at Russian northern fleet base. (Lev Fedoseyev/Getty Images.) position off the eastern seaboard of the U.S., launching its mis- And since the Boreis are smaller and more space-efficient than siles in a surprise attack. This unadvertised capability was the their ancestors, they probably don’t have swimming pools. Rus- final straw for ship captain Marko Ramius, who defects with his sia plans to build at least eight Borei submarines, split between submarine to the U.S. the Northern (Atlantic) and Pacific Fleets. Today, a newer generation of Russian missile submarines, the At forty years old, Dmitri Donskoy is nearing retirement age. Borei class, are replacing the Russian Navy’s aging Typhoon- The Soviets built the Typhoon boats during a time before com- and Delta-class subs. The Borei-class subs carry sixteen Bulava puters and compact ballistic missiles, and their size was dictated missiles, for a total explosive yield of 7,200 kilotons, though in large part by their enormous RSM-52 missiles. There may the Bulava missiles are likely much more accurate than their never be a class of submarines as big as the Typhoons…though predecessors. never say never.
Dmitri Donksoi arriving at the Kronstadt Naval Base, St. Petersburg, July 2017. (AFP Contributor/Getty Images.)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 27 Missile Boats to be Recycled (continued from page 1)
ble of firing UGM-96 Trident I SLBMs. Its nuclear reactor enabled Ohio, like other SSBNs, to stay submerged for months at a time. It also gave Ohio the ability to dive deeper than diesel- electric submarines and allowed it to have a virtually unlimited range, restricted only by its food supply. At Ohio’s commis- sioning, then-Vice President George Bush Tugs guide USS Ohio out of dry dock in Bangor, Washington, August 15, 1983. (Corbis via Getty Images.) said the vessel was “a new dimension in our ballistic-missile submarines, classified as SSBNs, and meant to nation’s strategic deterrence,” while Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, replace the aging boats of the five previous SSBN classes, known known as the “father of the nuclear Navy,” said Ohio should as the “41 for Freedom,” which were commissioned between “strike fear in the hearts of our enemies.” 1959 and 1967. All but one of the Ohio-class boats were named after U.S. states, The SALT I and SALT II treaties between the U.S. and the Soviet a tradition the Navy previously reserved for battleships and Union put limitations on their nuclear forces, including the cruisers. number of submarine- launched ballistic missile (SLBMs) silos each could possess. As a result, a number of SSBNs were retired or refitted and reclassified as attack subs to make room for Ohio-class subs to enter service. As the newest SSBN in the Navy, Ohio was a considerable upgrade. At 560 feet long and 42 feet wide, Ohio and its follow-on boats are the largest submarines in U.S. history. It was originally armed with four torpedo tubes and twenty-four missile silos—eight more than its predecessors—capa- USS Ohio undergoing conversion to a new class of guided missile submarine at Puget Sound (continued on page 29) Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, March 15, 2004. (U.S. Navy/Wendy Hallmark.)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 28 Missile Boats to be Recycled (continued from page 28)
Members of Gold Crew on duty in Control aboard USS Ohio, January 23, 2021. (U.S. Navy/MCS2 Kelsey J. Hockenberger.)
SSBN and SSGN attack cruise missiles. After training and shakedown operations, Ohio was transferred The four SSGNs have more than half of the U.S. Navy’s subma- to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at its homeport of Bangor, Wash- rine vertical-launch payload capacity, with Ohio alone carrying ington, in August 1982. In October that year, Ohio began its first more Tomahawks than a single Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. strategic deterrent patrol, the first such patrol with a Trident I SLBM, which lasted seventy days. The remaining two missile tubes were converted into swimmer lockout chambers, which, combined with its ability to carry a Ohio would conduct strategic deterrent patrols out of Bangor dry deck shelter, allows the Ohio to deploy up to sixty-six Navy for the next twenty years and did a number of Trident test Seals or Force Reconnaissance Marines for special operations. launches in that time. After a brief overhaul from 1993 to 1994, Ohio returned to patrol duties in 1995. Returning to active service in 2006, Ohio continued to conduct patrols in the Pacific and participated in a number of exercises In 1994, the Nuclear Posture review determined that the with the U.S.’s Asian allies. In 2010, Ohio and two other SSGNs Navy only needed 14 of its 18 SSBNs. As a result, the first four surfaced simultaneously in the Western Pacific in response to Ohio-class submarines were to be converted to SSGNs to assist Chinese missile tests in the East China Sea. ground operations in a more tactical role. In April 2017, Ohio entered a two-year refit, which upgraded Ohio’s conversion lasted from 2002 to 2005. Ohio and its fellow most of its onboard systems, and returned to service in August SSGNs are now equipped with 22 Vertical Launching System of 2019. tubes, giving them the ability to fire up to 154 Tomahawk land- (concluded on page 30)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 29 Missile Boats to be Recycled (concluded from page 29)
a shielded transfer container that is placed in a specially designed shipping container before being sent to the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho. After this, the missile launchers are removed from the submarine and cut apart to ensure their destruc- tion in accordance with the terms of the SALT II Treaty. When this is done, the reactor is thoroughly cleaned, sealed in a protective case, and removed by crane to be sent to the Department of Energy’s Hanford waste disposal site in eastern Washington. Any remaining parts of the subma- rine that can be used in active subs Force Reconnaissance Marines in combat rubber raiding craft approach USS Ohio during is removed and stored. The hull is n exercise off Okinawa, February 2, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Destiny Dempsey.) then scrapped.
To ensure continuous operation at peak performance, Ohio Eventually, all Ohio-class SSBNs will be replaced by the Co- is operated by two rotating 155-man crews, dubbed Blue and lumbia class. The four SSGNs, meanwhile, will be replaced by Gold. Each crew deploys for seventy to ninety days before re- the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, which will have turning to port to swap places with the other. vertical-launch systems capable of firing twelve to forty Toma- hawks or Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Plans for Recycling Ohio is currently operating in the Pa- cific with the U.S. 7th Fleet. It recently conducted an exercise with Force Recon- naissance Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, who practiced deployments via submarine and rubber raiding craft. Ohio is expected to enter the recycling process in 2026, along with sister boat USS Florida. For submarines, the process has four stages: inactivation, missile compart- ment dismantlement, reactor compart- ment disposal, and recycling. Inactivation begins after the sub has been disarmed and put into a drydock. The reactor is shut down and completely de- fueled. The main storage battery is then removed. The submarine is cut open to allow easy USS Ohio at a naval base in Busan, South Korea, with its dry deck chamber access to the reactor. The fuel is moved to open, February 26, 2008. (KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP via Getty Image.)
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 30 USS Cobia (SS-245) On display as a museum boat in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
(Photo by Carol Banning)
SEALION CISCO HARDER S-36 S-44 SEAWOLF In memory S-26 DORADO DARTER SHARK I WAHO O SHARK II of the PERCH CORVINA TANG fifty-two S-27 SCULPIN ESCOLAR GRUNION CAPELIN ALBACORE submarines S-39 SCORPION GROWLER ARGONAUT GRAYBACK SCAMP lost in AMBERJACK TROUT SWORDFISH World War II GRAMPUS TULLIBEE BARBEL TRITON GUDGEON KETE PICKEREL HERRING TRIGGER GRENADIER GOLET SNOOK RUNNER S-28 LAGARTO R-12 ROBALO BONEFISH GRAYLING FLIER BULLHEAD POMPANO
THE PERISCOPE • MAY 2021 31